The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-16
Linden street. Christian Church


] II the Church of Ohr 81 is an Old les.
lament institution it was eetab-
lished prior to the advent of Christ
into this world-then we may expect
to find the qualifications for and con-
ditions of memberehip laid down in
the Old Testament. II. however, the
church is strictly a New Testament
institution, formed subsequently to
the coming of the Savior, then we
must learn from the New Testament
who may become members thereof,
aud upon what conditions. II the
Mosaic economy embraced an orgaui-
zltion essentially identical with the
Christisn Church, it follows that such
as were entitled to membership then
are entitled to membership now But
if the Church OF Christ is an institution
essentially different from any organi-
z,tion in existence before the birth of
| Christ, it behooves us to find out
when and where it WAS established,
that we may apply to the proper source
for information as to the qualifications
and conditions necessary to admit.
lance into the church. On this by.
pothesis 1t follows that an individual
fully entitled to membership in for
mer institution, might not be 80 en-
titled as to the Lew institution. Was
the Church Of Christ established be.
fore or after His advent? Fur the FOL
lowing reasons l ancwer that it was
founded sfter His advent and after
His death, burial and rss1rrection:
/. TIE text clearly implies this.
Upon this rock | will build my
church." 1t il iUtuitively clear that
wien a person says he will do thing,
that thing has not already been done.
II the Church of Christ had been
founded before His advent He would
not have used the future tense OF the
verb in speaking of the building of it.
That Is 30 plain that would ri oct
upon your intelligeu ce by trying to
make 1t palmer. Now, the Savior
used this language not very long be-
fore His crucifxion, and hence the
church could not have been founded
before His Advent.
2. A prophecy in Isaiah xviii, Is,
implies this. Therefore thus saith the
Lord God, Behold, l lay in Zion, for q
foundation, a stone, q tried STONE, a
precious corner stone, a sure iounos.
ton; be snst believeth shall not make
baste." The apostle Peter applies this
language directly to Christ. He is
the stone that was to be laid for a
tounoa ion, and this stone was to be
laid as tried stone; tried before be.
ing laid. He that builds wisely looks |
well % the foundation upon which he |
builds, for the stability of building
dependa largely upon ITS fIunda ion.
God built His church with It ference
to the salvation OF mankind, and be
put 1t on foundation that would
elicit the implicit confidence of those
whose salvation WIS Contemplated.
tie selected Christ as The foundation,
out did not lay him as such until he
had bsen effectively tried by the three
great enemies Of mankind, namely,
satan, death and the grave. He could
lot be presented as az adequate fnun-
iation for kingdom proposing to
ave men f'om the combined
power of all these foes until
~ strict trial He should
70 shown TO be superior TO all
hese powers and abe to redeem from
heir thralldOm. He was tried by
'atan in the temptation in the wilder
less, by death on Calvary and by the
rave in which he was placed after
iis death. He gloriousy triumphed
yer sll these enemies, and having
riumphed be was ready, as precious,
ried stone, to be laid as the founda. {
ion upon which the church--an in !
titution embracing the hopes of /
uined world-might securely rest {
nd now che that believeth on Him" {
an do 10 with no far of ever being
ut to the shame of disappointment {
This reasoning, based upon the fore
DING Scripture, leads to the concIu- {
ion that the foundation OF the church |
as not laid till after the resurrection G
1 Christ, and that hence the church '
self could not have been built prior
} that time. 8
3. Christ's answer to question pro. 4
ounded by the disciples after the
esurrection implies this; "They, |,
lerefore, when they were come to- 8
ether, ssked Him, saying, Lord, dost C
hou a. this time restore the kingdom g
Israel? Aud He said unto them, n
is not for you 10 know times or u
,ssone, which the Father hath set 6
thin His own authority" When
he disciples propounded this question IL
icy were probably sill possessed OF a
10 idea that the kingdom of Christ G.
as to be "of this world" They were m
Ill looking for worldly kingdom, CT
ut this shows that they did not I'M b,
srstand that Christs Church or Ii
ngdom had already been es alb ished; m
Id IL 1t had already been established at
icy were ignorant Of the fact But h
lis is hardly supposs5le state OF the &C
'se. But the Savior's answer makes Ii
lib still clearer How easy and OPP. oil
'rtune for Him to have told them tv
at bis kingdom was founded in the oil
'ys OF Abraham, If such had been the sh
Sc or In the days OF John the Bsp. th
It, II it had been done then. But 81
Q said nothing Of the kind. Ii
? the contrary, He said; SO
I is not for you to know times ne
seasons" As much as to say, not ",
ny has my kingdom not yet been la
up, but it is not for even you, my Al
ost intimate friends and disciples, to th
low the times or Seasons when 1t re
all be established. This is q matter Z"
III held as a secret in the Counsels Of ca
Q Almighty. He then told them pr
at they should receive power when m
9 Holy Ghost should come upon to
EN-. TheTeupon they returned to eli
rusalem and remained there till the W
irit came upon them at Pehtecost M
d endued them with power end aa
edom to act. for Christ in the i'm m
rant matter OF establishing his gt
uFch. Acccrdin0lv the aDoatla ar